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Why Leadership?

Not all students have the opportunity to receive the education they need and deserve.

And our kids and communities need more leaders who believe this is a solvable problem and who will fight for them.

That’s why we have made it our mission to inspire and support Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) members – who are Teach For America corps members and alumni – to engage civically within their communities to end the injustice of educational inequity.

We’re making a bet on leadership.

We understand there’s no single set of solutions that will work for every community. That’s why we aim to inspire and support our members to work for change that reflects and responds to the needs of students in their communities.

We believe that when our members are organized and reach positions of leadership, they’ll serve as a transformative force for students, communities and the broader movement for educational equity.

And every child in every community across the nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.

Investing in Leaders

LEE’s leadership development programming is designed to maximize the effectiveness of members working on behalf of children in communities nationwide.

We develop leaders who are:

Visionary. Members have a clear and compelling long-term vision for the impact they want to have with students and families on educational equity. This vision is informed by their direct experience in the classroom and community, and members can communicate it in a way that inspires tangible action.

Strategic. Members are committed to long-term, systemic progress and work pragmatically towards their vision. They make critical decisions and address challenges in a way that reflects a sustained commitment to end educational inequity.

Community-driven. Members value the experiences and leadership of the students, families and communities they serve. They build power through relationships with diverse groups to foster a collective voice for change in their communities. Members also strive to deeply understand how systemic racial and economic barriers inform the opportunity gap in their communities, and actively seek occasions to lead with those most impacted by pervasive inequity.

Reflective and self-aware. Members examine their leadership experiences to leverage their strengths and address key areas of growth through ongoing reflection and development. Members also strive to better understand their identity and how it impacts their judgment and relationships in their work to dismantle historical and current forms of oppression.

Values-driven. Members have the confidence to take risks and make difficult decisions that are rooted in their values, vision for impact, long-term strategy and understanding of their communities. In the face of opposition, members draw on a deep conviction in what is best for students and families. They respect different perspectives and experiences and are willing to adjust their approach as necessary.

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“As white people, our actions and beliefs have tangible impact on the movement for educational equity, and we must assess our own behaviors and hold ourselves accountable to ensuring our most vulnerable students receive the education they deserve.”

Leadership for Educational Equity uses think-cell—an Office add-in which integrates seamlessly with PowerPoint and helps you to visualize complex charts like Marimekko, Gantt and waterfall within minutes. think-cell also enables users to maintain a presentation's structure with auto-updating agendas, and consistently round numbers in Excel sheets. It is used by all major consulting firms on a daily basis. Free licenses of think-cell are available for LEE staff members. Refer to the online documentation, screen-casts and knowledge base to get started with think-cell.